Watersports enthusiasts have completed London’s first paddle-boarding marathon, raising over £30,000 for charity.

Starting in Shepperton, west London, and
paddling down river to Putney, 25 stand-up paddle-boarders - or SUPs - took
part in the 26-mile challenge to raise money for bowel cancer charity,
Momentum.

Travelling through five locks, under 12
bridges and against 35-mile-an-hour head winds, the group of paddlers -
assisted by 15 experienced marshals - completed the challenge in around 10
hours.

The group have so far raised £31,407 for
Momentum. The money raised will fund the FLEX research project, which is developing
a minimally invasive surgery technique for sufferers of bowel cancer at St
Mark’s Hospital, Harrow.

Fundraisers say the money will take the
research through to the next stage - testing the surgical technique on human
patients.

If successful, the FLEX technique will
mean that around 4,000 cancer patients each year in the UK, who would normally
have to have major colon surgery, will instead be treated with the pioneering
technique.

One paddler, Martine Ainsworth-Wells, who
raised over £800 for the cause, said: “It was amazing to be part of London’s
first SUP Marathon and to make history. More importantly, I was so proud to
have been part of a team that raise over £30,000 for Momentum, funding research
and treatment at St Mark’s Hospital. Knowing that we’ve helped save lives made
all the pain worth it.”

The event, which took place on Saturday,
was organised in partnership with Active360 - London’s paddle boarding company.